20 Best Penalty Takers in World Football History

Arguably the most nervy of all moments during the course of a given soccer match, the penalty shot is psychological warfare: Two men, one ball and stakes that do not get much greater in soccer, a clear chance to score a goal.

Over the years of world football history, penalties and missed penalties have provided memories littered with controversial and dramatic moments. A penalty is supposed to be finished at the professional level: period. Anything else is a failure.

Such a task should only be required of players made with the iciest of veins.

For goalkeepers, a penalty save is a way to distinguish themselves, shift momentum in a match and let whichever defender conceded off the hook for his mistake.

This slideshow looks at some of the best penalty kick takers in the history of world football. There is no overall empirical method employed for this list. And while some of the ranking is based around numerical penalty success, there are other variables considered and gathered from watching penalties and researching style and stakes.

As always, no list is 100 percent correct, so feel free to provide any comments about who was missed, who should be higher or who should be lower.

19. Graham Alexander

The Coventry, England-born Graham Alexander is known for his durability and longevity.

He had a long footballing career as both a right back and defensive midfielder.

In addition to being able to play match after match without missing a beat, Alexander was a penalty kick specialist. He found the back of the net without fear and often started his run to the ball beyond the box.

18. Mario Balotelli

The mercurial Mario Balotelli has a lot of football left to play in his young career. He does not possess the abundant amount of penalty kick attempts as some of the older players on this list.

But in his short time as a go-to penalty kick taker, Balotelli has severely impressed.

The shot presented above displays a brilliant feint by the Italian, right before the he coolly slots the ball into the back of the net. More to come in this sort of mold from Balotelli from the stripe, undoubtedly.

17. Leighton Baines

English international and Everton back, Leighton Baines knows his way around from twelves yards out.

The left-footer generally makes contact with the ball with the inside of his foot, preferring accuracy as opposed to pure power.

That is not to say that his penalty efforts are weak, on the contrary, they are paced well-enough to trouble to goalkeeper but controlled so he is unlikely to miss the target. He will almost always force an opposing goalkeeper to make a save.

12. Gary McAllister

Gary McAllister is remembered for a massive penalty miss in the 1996 European Cup tournament against England.

This stain does not take away from the fact that his overall penalty prowess was fantastic.

McAllister was the breed of footballer always demanding to take penalties and free kicks. While he may have been wasteful at times with the latter he was mostly always collected and finished a great chunk of the former when an the opportunity presented itself.

4. Frank Lampard

Involved in critical penalty situations for both club and country, Frank Lampard is always up for the responsibilities that come with taking a PK.

He finished his attempt against Manchester United in the 2008 UEFA Champions League final. The Englishman also buried a penalty in the semi-final against Liverpool, just days after his mother had passed away.

3. Zinedine Zidane

Zinedine Zidane's 2006 World Cup final performance will forever be remembered for two actions: His infamous headbutt on Marco Materazzi and his ridiculously cheeky penalty that gave France an early lead.

To suggest that Zidane's hesitation and chipped-shot was bold is a ludicrous understatement.

This was the biggest stage possible so taking such a risk is remarkable.

The dice-roll here was worth it, though, as this one of the more memorable penalties in soccer history.